nbc news justice correspondent pete williams is outside the high court. this surrounds a party based in utah, myriad genetics. tell us about this case. >> reporter: they have a pat owned a gene used to test for the likelihood that a person will get either breast or ovarian cancer. the question is, can they patent the gene itself? and it would appear from today's argument, that the supreme court is prepared to say no. now, myriad has said, if the supreme court rules against and it several other companies are lining up against it, would it make it much harder to attract investment. finding these genes and discovering the tests and cures is very expensive. the court seemed worry that you could patent something that is basically not the work of man. it is the work of nature. there is a dispute about whether you isolate the gene, the majority of the justices didn't seem to think it is new enough to warrant a patent. it would be pun thing they said, if you found a plant in the amazon that had a chemical that could cure cancer. you might be able to get a patent